The Weekly Chirp

The Lesser Goldfinch is a small active year round resident in our area. Quite striking, if you look close. They are small, chatty and very social with lots of gossip! The males have an impressive bright yellow belly, while their back is a sleek intense black. The females, as in many bird species, are more dull in color, yet just as active!

Yesterday at about dusk, I was birding down by the creek below Unit One. I could hear an abnormally large amount of chattering and chirping in the bushy mesquite just below me. On closer look, I discovered a huge group of Lesser Goldfinch, with the males in one bush and the females close by in another. It was hilarious to watch them flirting! Keeping to their appointed bushes, they clamored and carried on, occasionally exerting a “look at me” display. The mating season is upon us!

Another great spot to watch these beautiful seed eating birds is by the spillway and along the creek where there is open brushland and a water source.